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Park Service Notes Limits On Gathering Mushrooms
The morel mushroom season is here, and the National Park Service is reminding visitors about regulations on collecting mushrooms in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
Gathering small amounts of some edible mushrooms for personal consumption is permitted. Visitors are allowed to collect one half-gallon per person per day for all types of mushrooms. The Park Service said in a statement that the collection of edible mushrooms can be a rewarding experience but noted that it also can be dangerous and should not be attempted by anyone who is unsure how to identify edible mushroom species.
For information, contact the Natural Resource Program Manager in the Resource Management Division at 301-714-2224.
Two New Centers Offer Aid in Economic Crisis
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with local municipalities and community organizations, has opened neighborhood service centers in Gaithersburg and Wheaton to bring emergency food and housing stabilization assistance to areas hit hardest by the economic crisis.
Working with Family Services, Impact Silver Spring, the city of Gaithersburg, Interfaith Works and the Community Foundation, the Gaithersburg Neighborhood Service Center opened in March at the Family Services' offices, 602 E. Diamond Ave. The center is open from 2 to 5 p.m. Mondays and from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. It serves families and individuals in the 20877 Zip code.
The Gaithersburg center is within a complex of other nonprofit providers, including Home Free-USA, Manna Food Center, the Dwelling Place, Guide Youth Services, Interfaith Upcounty Clothing Center, Teen and Young Adult Health Connection, Community Clinic and the and Women, Infants and Children program.
The Wheaton Neighborhood Service Center, with Catholic Charities as the lead nonprofit partner agency, opened in late April at 12247 Georgia Ave. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and serves residents in Zip codes 20902 and 20906.
Both centers are staffed by "community connectors," who have been trained by Health and Human Services to assist residents in completing applications for food stamps, utility assistance and health services; help them gather documents required for applications; and make referrals to other resources.
Residents can apply for the following services at the centers: temporary cash assistance, food stamps, medical assistance, eviction prevention and utility disconnections, home energy programs and rental assistance.
For information, call the Gaithersburg center at 301-840-4080 or the Wheaton center at 301-942-1790.
Police Yard Sale Raises $2,600 to Assist Victims
The Montgomery County Police Victim Assistance Unit's annual yard sale May 30 raised $2,600 for the emergency victim fund, according to a statement from the police department.
The fund provides assistance to buy grocery store gift cards, baby formula, clothing and other life essentials for victims in financial crisis. Additionally, the fund helps provide the neediest victims' children with gifts during the holiday season.
